Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]
Days after of Crash landing/ 3
Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern
Galactic Standard Time / 0600
As Sara blinked, she looked around. It took her more seconds than she would have liked to remember where she was. As soon as that happened, she remembered. The life she had before she had joined the crew of the Spirit. The plans that she had for her future before this. What had caused her to come along on this expedition. The horrors of the Vine-Beast, the giant spider, and the found fighter. The escape into the ground, and the revelations that followed hearing Roy scream. Then the discovery of the native. She looked at Burt as she got up and saw he was already up.
Burt only smiled at her as he brought his pack around and started to pull out a few wrapped bundles. “I’ve got a few pieces of firewood if you want to warm something else. And my rations that I’ll be happy to share for some of yours.”
All that Sara could do was wonder what this man had gone through, and what kind of civilization he had been raised in. The man was trying to be helpful. She didn’t trust him. The only beings she had ever met that like him all had one thing. They were either naïve, wanted something, or running from something. The trick she found was to try and figure out who was who.
Sara looked at him and was about to say something when Racha's voice came from above them. “That’s fine. But I’d like to talk a little more.”
Sara and Burt looked up and saw Racha, Al, and Jinn. They were walking around the raised part of the cavern. Al stopped above them while Racha and Jinn continued until they were right across from Burt.
“Sure, sure. Just let old Burt here have a bit of time, and I’ll sing for ya. So what do you want to know?” Burt asked as he looked into his pack.
Sara could tell that Burt was trying to make so time to let him gather his thoughts. It was an old tactic and one that work sometimes. But Racha didn’t give him that time.
“Why didn’t you go to help your home?” Racha asked bluntly.
Burt stopped and went still. He chuckled a little as he slowly put down his pack. “Well, well. No one usually figures out that so fast. What gave me away?”
Behind him, he could hear someone moving. He saw Paige getting up and standing between him and Roy. Roy who had grabbed the baby and moved deeper into the cave. Getting out of the line of sight and the chaos he thought was going to help.
“Most people who talk about their homes under threat usually try and help. That you didn’t and you said you crashed here. That was enough know you didn’t tell us everything,” Jinn said as he crossed his arms.
Burt only nodded and sighed. “I did keep something back. Have you ever heard of what some call Ruins of the Ancients?”
“Yes. We figured out that we were brought here by a space-based one. Here’s a tip, those ships you mentioned? They weren’t going in the same direction at all,” Al said cheerily.
“I did not know that. But back to the Ruin thing. Go out about ten miles from a central location and you’ll run into a stone gateway. There’s one at random locations, but only one per compos direction. Now these Gateways are important because they can connect anywhere on this planet. From one side to another in the time it takes to pass through one. But they connect at random and they can reconnect at random too! To make a long story short a long time ago I was taken through one and I’ve been traveling ever since. So for about five years,” Burt admitted with a sigh.
Sarra looked at him in shock, her mouth opened in horror.
“So you heard about the attack on your home or the possibility while trying to get home?” Al asked
Burt just sighed. “Yeah. I heard about it while I was camping out in a territory in the Eternal City. An area hundreds of miles wide that’s just a large city. I was hoping to get closer, but well I accidentally was sold to a slave ship. One slave revolute later, I escaped through another Gateway before closed. But I was so far from home…..”
Sara looked at Racha and Jinn. She still didn’t know what Jinn’s deal was, but he was like Racha. And anyone like a Service operative had to be deadly. If they knew how to read people, then just maybe they all could trust Burt.
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Racha looked at Burt and tried to figure this out. The very idea of the existence of these Gateways was bad. Gates to who knows where that could open at random? They would have to find a way to watch them. That meant they needed the yard ship even more. It had to be in good enough shape, there was no other option that led to their survival. And as much as she didn’t want to, they needed Burt.
If he was telling the truth, then they needed someone who knew the way things worked around here. And…… “Wait. You crashed here, right? You came through a Gateway ahead of something, didn’t you?”
“Yeah,” Burt said as he scratched the back of his head. “There was this pirate ship with a cannibal crew….. let’s just say I got out by the skin of my teeth.”
Racha only stared at him. She had seen survivors before and he might be one. But then the way he talked about it.
“Okay, everyone stand down. And someone get the food ready,” Racha said as she walked past Burt. Getting to the bags, she pulled out a bottle and threw it to Burt.
He took a deep drink and released a deep sigh as he looked at it. “A bottle of water that’s still cold. You forget the little things when you’re traveling, ya know?”
“Not really. We were all aboard a passenger liner before we crashed,” Roy said as he sat down, putting the baby onto his lap.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
As Racha watched, Paige came over with a small bowl of mashed fruit. Taking it, Roy tried to feed it to the baby. As the girl kept her mouth closed Burt came over.
He grabbed the spoon and started to make cute sounds. As the baby looked at him he pantomimed eating and then brought the spoon towards her. The baby opened her mouth and Burt slipped a bit of the fruit into it. After the baby swallowed she started to giggle and open her mouth again.
Roy looked at Burt and almost cried. Racha had to admit, Burt had a way with children. If they had to do that, then the nightmare of feeding the baby was over. And that was something that she was glad for.
“You’re welcome! And that is a cute baby! Your’s?” Burt asked as he looked at Roy.
“No. NO. I…. I rescued her,” Roy said with a small shrug. As the baby started to cry Roy grabbed her and started to rock her back and forth.
“Rescued her? From what?” Burt asked.
Roy looked to Racha, and Racha looked back. After a few seconds, Racha nodded. Burt had trusted them, and that meant they had to trust him. And he had been born on this world, and there was a chance that he knew something. If people had been living here for years, then if the Abilities were from an external source..... Burt might just know something they needed to know.
“We…… the capsule that I came down in. Most of the other people went mad. I, there was one who led the others. He said that they needed to sacrifice someone to the monsters outside. And he had said that it needed to be the most innocent. I said no, and well I became part of it,” Roy said softly.
Burt only whistled as he shook his head. “That was something, man. I mean, I don’t know many people who would be able to survive a demagogue. Good on ya!”
Racha nodded and then she went still. Burt hadn’t said that Roy was lucky to be alive, he had named something. he had heard about people like whoever had taken over Roy’s capsule. That meant it happened enough that people had to name them.
“A what?” Roy asked softly. Burt only took another drink and then sighed as he looked at Roy.
“Sounds like he awoke as a demagogue. And went mad. Bad combo my friend. Those people when they go mad, you were lucky you were out,” Burt said shaking his head.
Roy and Sara both stopped what they were doing. Racha even looked up as Jinn went still.
“You know what that person did to make them all follow him? And Awoke?” Roy asked as he held the baby firmly.
“Yeah, awoke the power….. you don’t have the power off world, do you?” Burt asked as he looked around, shocked.
“Explain, now,” Racha said sternly. If he had any info on the Abilities Jinn, Sara and Paige had then they needed to know now.
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Burt took a deep breath and tried to gather his thoughts. There had been stories about how the power was something that was only on this planet. It had been told for years but he was among those that never believed it. The power was a basic right here! To think it wasn't the same on the Homeworlds?
“What’s to talk about? I mean it’s hard to describe to those still Asleep. The power is…… they say it’s a side effect of life. Something that we give off without knowing according to the old stories. And the only limits on what you can do are your strength, your skill, and what the universe lets you do. I've seen it all, great fighters and healers. And it's handy,” Burt said as he held up a hand and a small blue sphere formed from lightning that shot from his fingers. “Se, everyone in this world has something called an Aether Template. It’s a set of skills that you can learn easily. I don’t know how or why, it just is. But anyone can learn any skill. It’s just a bit harder for some.”
Burt looked around, trying to see if any of them reacted. He saw Roy looked shocked but the others were all trying to force a shocked look
“And this demagogue? What’s that?” Jinn asked with a slight scowl.
“Well, those people that can affect the minds of others? It’s all good for someone to inspire people, you understand? But when those twist people’s minds? That’s a demagogue. I’ve heard of whole communities that have fallen under the control of one. And it never ends well for them. Even if they're freed, it’s never a good ending,” Burt said with a shudder as he looked down at his drink. “But how did they not affect you I wonder? The power of even a new one is said to be strong.”
“I wasn’t awake when they did their thing. I just woke up and everyone had gone mad! well most of them,” Roy said.
Burt looked up and saw Roy was looking like he had something to be ashamed of. For a second he was worried just what it was, but from what Burt remembered he had nothing. “Well good! You were able to stay yourself and find a way to get free! And save the little lady at the same time. Few would have the will to even try!”
“But I only got away from them because some of the others saved us! if you’re right, then why didn’t they all fall under the demagogue’s control?” Roy asked as he looked down at the baby in his arms.
Burt looked at them and smiled. Part of him knew that whatever happened the man would try and keep in contact with the baby. That was normal, and he wished them all the best. But for now, he had to tell the others more of the truth of this world.
“Makes sense. Sometimes some people just can’t be twisted. I think someone once wondered if demagogues need to have an ‘in’ to control people. I’ve heard things that argue for and against it. It’s one of those things that you can’t study if you have a soul ya know. Now those Scholars, some of them…..” Burt trailed off as he looked at Al.
Al only looked back and then his eyes widened. “There are groups of my Faith on this world?”
“A few, a few. Some of them trade technology for raw materials. And some of them raid others for slaves and resources. I’ve heard that their ‘Collection Temples’ are places of true hell. My own home threw one of their crusades back once, and the vets had horror stories of what they faced. Monsters of flesh and metal! True horrors that only should exist in nightmares. And people without souls,” Burt said softly and Al looked at him horrified.
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Al’s mind was racing. He knew what Burt was talking about. The Way of the Integration, to blend flesh and metal as one. The creation of limbs for people who lost them was seen as a gift for all, but then those who replaced limbs by choice. There had been those who went too far, some who became a part of the very building they worked in. Some then connected their minds to computers with tech that went both ways. And some of those created implants to take over the person. That was the worst of the Heresies, to take the very will from another.
“They turned people into mindless weapons? They dared to do that?” Al asked stunned that anyone from his religion would do that. By the looks on the other's faces, the horror he was feeling was in his voice.
“You know about that!? I’ve heard the stories, but I always thought that was all it was!” Racha said with a hard tone.
Al looked up and winced at the look in her eyes. It made sense that she would say that, given who she was.
“It’s not something we talk about openly. The technology is considered the worst of the worst. Those who even dare are killed. I think there’s a treaty between all who follow the Scholar’s Way and the government. But I only heard in passing really,” Al said as he held up his hands.
Al saw Racha glare before she nodded. He felt a little better that she would let it go for now. But he knew she would be talking to him about this.
“I think so, but I wasn’t talking about just that,” Burt said softly.
Al looked up and saw the look in Burt in horror. “What do you mean?”
“They said that the weapons that they brought against us were life forms that were mutated. I mean humans or xenos were giving organic limbs from beasts. And beasts were sent that had metal parts or weapons grafted on” Burt said softly.
Al couldn’t believe what he was hearing. To think that those called Dread Scholars were alive here. The First Civil War was something that every world of the Scholar’s Way taught. The crimes and the way people were killed, it was beyond legend, it was nightmares.
“That is forbidden! Dread Scholars have enough resources to do that?!” Al said in horror as he shot to his feet.
“Wait…….. ‘ Dread Scholar’!? That’s not just a swear term!?” Sara demanded. As the others all looked at her she blushed and looked away. “I heard the term once when my old teacher was having a bad day and sprained their foot. They just cursed and that was one of them.”
“No…… they’re people who put research and creation above all others. The ones who do all that are Heretical. To even gain half what he said…… I can’t even think of how they’d do that. I just can’t figure it out,” Al said as he looked around the room.
Racha looked like she was going to say something, but Jinn spoke up.
“Fine. If you think of anything, just let us know. Everyone, listen up. I found another capsule. Based on what I saw the people there are still holding out. The catch, we need to cross a river that empties into the ocean. And from what I saw rock split the river into three channels. Another catch, a body of some kind is against said channels. And I saw a swarm of those flying worms go to feed on it. Final catch, they’ll probably bring in things that hunt them. And we still need to cross it,” Jinn said as he looked around.
“So what? We go to the capsule and then you all try and make contact with yours?” Roy asked and Sara laughed.
“No, then I guess we drop you off there and get help?” Paige asked and Racha nodded.
“Yes, sorry Roy. But you’ve got your mission and we’ve got our own. We have to get to that Yard Ship, with what Burt told us we’ve got no choice now. That might be the difference between us building a power or being refugees.
Al nodded, a hard look on his face. Racha was right, they needed this. If those portals could open up anywhere, then the Dread Scholars could come and find them. If the horror stories in the depths of the networks of his home were to true, then they needed to grow. If the monsters some stories talked about were true, then they needed power. And one of his friend's projects he was working on might just be the game changer they needed.
“Yard Ship? What’s that?” Burt asked as he grabbed a piece of fruit.
“An automated factory ship. Once you get it turned on and powered up, the factory can make anything. And we can only hope that the ship is still able to work. I mean it did crash into a mountain. And to get to it we’ve gotta go over a land bridge,” Jinn said with a shrug.
“A ship that’s crashed through a mountain on an island connecting to a land bridge. Why does that…. Wait. That’s …. The Iron Island. THIS IS THE IRON ISLAND!? Oh by the Tides! No wonder this place is mad!” Burt exclaimed as he shot to his feet.
As Al watched, Burt’s eyes widened in what he thought was horror.